Control Global

Not just anybody can perform effective pressure calibrations. And especially with today’s highly stable, precise instrumentation, any drift in the applied calibration pressure due to small leaks or pump idiosyncrasies can result in doing more harm…

Q: I came across your “Ask the experts” column at www.controlglobal.com, and I'd like to ask a question I’ve had for quite a while regarding the control of fuel gas to a fired heater.
This particular unit is a natural-draft heater used in a…

Wireless leak detection sensors check to see if hydrocarbons are leaking into a tank’s retention pond from overflows, valves, pumps and cracks.

On December 10, 2005, Tank 912 at the Buncefield Oil Storage Depot in Hertfordshire, England, was filling with gasoline. According to a report by the European Process Safety Centre, the tank had two forms of level control: a gauge enabling personnel…

Q: I came across your “Ask the experts” column at www.controlglobal.com, and I'd like to ask a question I’ve had for quite a while regarding the control of fuel gas to a fired heater.
This particular unit is a natural-draft heater used in a…

The latest trends, technology and implementations are detailed in this new ebook from the editors of Control.

The latest trends, technology and implementations are detailed in this new ebook from the editors of Control.
Topics covered include:
Taming temperature and pressure
Secrets to good vessel temperature and pH control
Living on the edge with surge…

Control's Monthly Resource Guide brings you the latest online resources on a variety of process control topics.

MULTI-PART WEIGHING
This four-section webpage by Omega Engineering covers "Weighing Applications," "Weighing System Design," "Installation and Calibration" and "Specialized Installations." The whole group is located at…

To keep up with demand for its temperature and analyzer products, Endress+Hauser opened two new manufacturing facilities on May 31, including a more than $8-million, 42,000-square-foot temperature measurement plant at its North American headquarters…

Q: I came across your “Ask the experts” column at www.controlglobal.com, and I'd like to ask a question I’ve had for quite a while regarding the control of fuel gas to a fired heater.
This particular unit is a natural-draft heater used in a…

It is well known that the operator can make or break a system. A recent research study found that only 2% of process losses and safety issues could be traced to something other than human error. Operator training is recognized as essential. Not…

Operation and maintenance organizations shouldn’t assume that they can merely connect our “things” from the last century and reap the benefits.

Following a brief “swoop-down” to quickly remedy some process equipment issues, a plant experienced erratic behavior of a critical valve—critical because it provided surge control for a large compressor. No one was comfortable proceeding with…

The latest trends, technology and implementations are detailed in this new eBook from the editors of Control.

The latest trends, technology and implementations are detailed in this new eBook from the editors of Control.
Topics covered include:
Pressure rising for open, secure systems
Exploring the love/hate relationship with distributed control
Making…

Our readers tell us who they think delivers the best technology in our industry

There's knowledge in our readers. That's why every year we ask our loyal audience to help us determine which automation service providers offer the best products and brands they can rely on to get the best combination of performance, ease of use,…

Basic motor overview
The five-page paper, "AC-powered motors in automation: general purpose, inverter/vector duty and stepper motors," provides a good overview of the main motor types used in many control and automation applications.
Read it here.

There are a lot of misconceptions in the application of automation systems in the process industries. Sometimes these errors in thinking don’t cause much harm because good design practices keep the user out of trouble, but they keep us from the…

Control's monthly guide brings you invaluable industry information to stay up to date on the latest trends and developments.

THE CLASSIC VALVE BOOK
The fourth edition of the 295-page classic text, "Control Valve Handbook," by Fisher Controls International and Emerson Process Management reports this classic text has been a primary reference since its first printing in1965.

Basic motor overview
The five-page paper, "AC-powered motors in automation: general purpose, inverter/vector duty and stepper motors," provides a good overview of the main motor types used in many control and automation applications.
Read it here.

"Mobility means different things. Within a plant, it can mean not being tied to a particular station, and being able to move around. Or, it can mean not being in a plant at all, and accessing applications via tablet PCs and mobile phones off-premises," says Matrix Technologies' Eric Lauber

Eric Lauber, project engineer at Matrix Technologies, a CSIA-certified system integrator, in Maumee, Ohio, reports that, "Mobility means different things. Within a plant, it can mean not being tied to a particular station, and being able to move…

Bonnie Ramey, DuPont senior process control engineer and HMI expert, explores how these standards are critical for improving the performance of operators, enabling them to better do the tasks needed for abnormal conditions, operational states and production objectives.

Greg: The operator is on a moment-to-moment to basis, making sure the process is safe, reliable and productive. It appears to me that the operator interface developed for the original distributed control systems in the 1970s did not improve much for…

Our process plants are not exempt from the forces of chaos, so when the caller ID indicates the plant, we might worry that it brings news of an unexpected trip or an injury to an employee or contractor.

A few years ago, my insurance man asked me, “You’re an engineer, aren’t you?” I was indeed, I said, and he went on to explain that I was eligible for a rate reduction, I just needed to fax him documentation of the degree I’d earned decades…

Our readers tell us who they think delivers the best technology in our industry

There's knowledge in our readers. That's why every year we ask our loyal audience to help us determine which automation service providers offer the best products and brands they can rely on to get the best combination of performance, ease of use,…

Operation and maintenance organizations shouldn’t assume that they can merely connect our “things” from the last century and reap the benefits.

Following a brief “swoop-down” to quickly remedy some process equipment issues, a plant experienced erratic behavior of a critical valve—critical because it provided surge control for a large compressor. No one was comfortable proceeding with…

A few worthy, proven technical innovations are making their way into IS solutions and settings.

Some things never change, which means they just change more slowly than we usually notice. One of these tortoises is intrinsic safety (IS) in the process industries, and most control engineers and other folks I know are grateful for its…

Operation and maintenance organizations shouldn’t assume that they can merely connect our “things” from the last century and reap the benefits.

Following a brief “swoop-down” to quickly remedy some process equipment issues, a plant experienced erratic behavior of a critical valve—critical because it provided surge control for a large compressor. No one was comfortable proceeding with…

Material choices affect the design and reliability of wireless connections.

There is obviously more to an enclosure than “just a box with a door” to mount common equipment inside. Unfortunately, like power supplies that we discussed earlier this year, enclosures are often an overlooked element of the engineering design…

In response to Control's questions about field-to-cloud networking for the "Alternate Paths" cover story in the June 2017 issue, two experts provided some thorough and comprehensive responses.

In response to Control's questions about field-to-cloud networking for the "Alternate Paths" cover story in the June 2017 issue, two experts from Red Lion Controls provided some thorough and comprehensive responses. They are Colin Geis, product…

OPA is not a standards-developing body, which means they will either have to adopt existing standards or work with another standards-developing organization such as ISA, FM, or UL to create any required documents.

The Open Process Automation Forum (OPA) and the team led by end-user companies ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell and BASF to develop the next generation control system have stated from the start that the solution will be based on open standards.

Be just 33 seconds more productive each hour, and the savings mount quickly.

Rockwell Automation previewed its new, forward-looking App Platform for mobility at this week’s TechED conference in Orlando. While focused first on redefining smartphone use on the plant floor – with the aim of making individual workers more…

As a chemical engineer by training, one aspect of automation that I had to pick up post-graduation was a basic understanding of electrical engineering. Although it wasn't a natural fit for me (my alma mater makes Chem Es take an electrical…

Best practices for implementing and auditing the integrity of information and decision systems across accounting, marketing, engineering, manufacturing, supply chain management and customer service systems.

Any company undergoing digitization and adopting the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) may experience up to a 10-fold increase in confusion, delays, failures and expense. The root cause will be reliance on interactions among a suite of computer…

Our process plants are not exempt from the forces of chaos, so when the caller ID indicates the plant, we might worry that it brings news of an unexpected trip or an injury to an employee or contractor.

A few years ago, my insurance man asked me, “You’re an engineer, aren’t you?” I was indeed, I said, and he went on to explain that I was eligible for a rate reduction, I just needed to fax him documentation of the degree I’d earned decades…

Few and surmountable obstacles lie between us and command-perform-verify.

ISA released the ISA-106 “Procedure Automation for Continuous Process Operations” initial Technical Report (TR) defining models and terminology in August 2013, and several manufacturers have implemented their interpretation of this document…

One of the few processes whose efficiency can be doubled through optimization.

In recent months, I discussed some non-industrial processes, such as control of the economy or climate change, automation of smart cars, the risks of cyber terrorism, the potentials and limitations of artificial intelligence, etc. Now, I'll return…

Why and how to secure industrial control and safety systems at every conduit.

Cybersecurity is all the rage now with everyone wondering if someone is peeking under their petticoats or will hack their control system and take over their process, a la Stuxnet, leading to a disaster. This is an important issue that requires a…

Nextnine's industrial cybersecurity business will be integrated into Honeywell’s Industrial Cyber Security group

To further strengthen its leadership in industrial cybersecurity, Honeywell reported Aug. 1 that it's completed the acquisition of Nextnine Ltd. it announced on June 13. Nextnine's industrial cybersecurity business will be integrated into…

Recognize aggressive media and know how to specify materials of construction.

Greg: Here we enjoy some war stories on material selection by Hunter Vegas, senior project manager at Wunderlich-Malec Engineering in Greensboro, N.C., a cofounder and key resource of the ISA Mentor Program revitalized by the Nov. 16, 2015, Control…

Material choices affect the design and reliability of wireless connections.

There is obviously more to an enclosure than “just a box with a door” to mount common equipment inside. Unfortunately, like power supplies that we discussed earlier this year, enclosures are often an overlooked element of the engineering design…

Manufacturers Share Sustainability Wins

About the Author

Jim Montague is the Executive Editor at Control, Control Design and Industrial Networking magazines. Jim has spent the last 13 years as an editor and brings a wealth of automation and controls knowledge to the position. For the past eight years, Jim worked at Reed Business Information as News Editor for Control Engineering magazine. Jim has a BA in English from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, and lives in Skokie, Illinois.

Energy is just like speed, vibration, temperature and flow. It's just another variable that can be controlled and optimized—but thinking about it in those terms is something relatively new.

For many decades, power was just turned on and off, bills for it were paid, and nobody thought about much beyond that, as long as the lights didn't go out. Well, times have changed. $4-per-gallon gas and other forms of energy become more precious, and everyone wants to run more sustainable operations and produce greener products.

To help users save power and compete on all these sustainable fronts, the Energy & Environment Industry Forum and the Energy Management exhibit were highlights of today's activities at the Rockwell Automation Automation Fair 2012 in Philadelphia.

"Rockwell Automation is the world's largest company dedicated to industrial automation and information, and we make our customers more productive and the world more sustainable," said Mary Burgoon, Rockwell Automation energy and environment market development manager, who moderated the forum.

"How do we help manufacturers meet the challenge of smart, safe and sustainable production? Our approach is based on our core technology—the Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture," Burgoon said. "Through it, companies can optimize a fragmented environment comprised of disparate systems into a connected, information-enabled plant and supply network. Integrated Architecture combines automation control and information technologies in a converged Ethernet environment.

"As a result, companies can gain access to what's happening directly in their production processes through their business systems. This plant-floor data collected from automation systems provides the real-time intelligence necessary for the optimal use of resources."

Data Organized for Renewable Energy Producer

Energenic, for example, is working with Rockwell Automation's Power & Energy Solutions Group to organize data and improve operations at 14 of the central energy centers (CECs) it builds and operates, and do the same for several solar plants and landfill-to-gas facilities it runs nationwide, reported Doug Demian, applications engineer at Rockwell Automation.

"Energenic needed to monitor energy use, chiller and boiler efficiencies, and many other parameters, and capture it all in a historical database," explained Demian. "So we came up with an integrated solution using our RSEnergyMetrix server and FactoryTalk platform that included variable-speed drives (VSDs) and controls, interfaces and links to third-party systems.